De42 Hotel

After a decade as a musician with a side gig of cooking for bandmates, these days Somphop finds himself enjoying daily walks through the market for fresh catches of the day and hand-cutting them for various southern Thai dishes served at his small, casual restaurant. Braised fish in salted soybean sauce; prawns with salted eggs and acacia; and wok-fried pork featuring the tender, succulent ‘armpit cut’ between the picnic shoulder and belly are not to be missed.

The constantly busy Go Benz has been serving popular dishes, including their speciality pork with peppery broth and rolled rice noodles, for over 20 years – and it’s easy to see why it’s quite such a popular spot. Many of the dishes often sell out, like the fragrant dry boiled rice with crispy pork and tender pork offal. Also well worth ordering is the crispy pork with sweet soy sauce, which is seasoned wonderfully and has a lovely charcoal-grilled crust.

The legacy of the original roadside stall lives on, thanks to the owner's granddaughter. Famous for its boiled rice with fish, this humble restaurant also serves a variety of other home-style dishes that are worth trying. The quality is clear in these bold-flavoured plates. The deep-fried meatballs, made to a family recipe, are a great start to the meal and go well with the fresh fish menu, which is cooked in a traditional Phuket style.

Southern recipes, affordable prices and down-to-earth hospitality – this is why locals pack out this family-run business at lunch and dinner. Their family recipes pack great intensity. The Phuketian stir-fried pork rump with salt is lovely, with tender meat and lip-smacking pork skin.

This unassuming gem serves around 30-40 juicy, tender charcoal-roasted ducks every day. Order a half or whole bird and savour the wholesome flavour and crispy skin fresh off the stove with either spicy-sour or tamarind sauce for dipping. Grilled chicken is sometimes an option, too.

For over 35 years, the locals have flocked to Roti Chaofa for Thai-Muslim breakfasts, curries and Thai-style chicken biryani. The crisp, golden-brown rotis with a fluffy inner, are nicely salted and enjoyed with sweets or savouries. The tangy, juicy Beef Massaman curry is delightful.

Having grown up working in his family's food business, Chef Buriphat always wanted to do something special with their recipes. Over the last few years, he has realised that vision, impressing diners with his honest interpretation of traditional Southern Thai-Peranakan cuisine. Check out the delicious stir-fried pork belly with herbs and sweet dark soy sauce, and be sure to try the pork rib soup with tofu and salted fish.